Sheet metal bundling machine



Feb. 21, 1950 J. FERRAN-DO SHEET METAL BUNDLING MACHINE Filed June 11,1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l /2 /7 James F'er/-ana o Attorney Feb. 21, 1950' vFERRANDQ 2,497,984

SHEET METAL BUNDLING MACHINE I Filed June 11, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2James Fer/"500% Attorney Inventor Patented Feb. 21 1 956 UNITED srArEsOmar;

seem Mii'rAIl BUNDiinG MaoHnvE j assisting, south Leeehber Pa.itisiiaiitt nie 11, 1948, gn a, 32,481 2 Claims. (01. 153-105) {Thisinvention relates a anovel machine of simple construction adapted foruse in mashing:

or flattening sheet metal elements such as cans and drums for forming acompact mass capable of being readilytied into a bundle for sale asreclaimed or salvagedmetal, c

Numerous machines. have been provided for this purpose most of which,are operated by hyweight by coinparison' to, othenmachines now in usefor the ,same purpose and Whichis capable ofbeing readily transportedto, the location of piles of waste metal so that the flattening andbundling operation, can be accomplished without transporte ing the metalto the machinethereby materially reducing the salvage expense}, H Moreparticularly,- it is an object of the present invention to provide amachine utilizing a gravity actuated ram or impact element withnovelmeans for raisingltheram to a desired'elevation forrelease so {thatsufficientforce will be imparted to,

the ramon its, down stroke for,--;accomplishing the flattening ormashing 'of themetal.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel hopper or,container for receivingfthe metal to be flattened and into which the ramor impact member is impelled by gravity;

son a further objector the invention s a pavide a novel latcharrangement for supporting the ram in a partially elevated positi onfioenable loading'of the hopper, or container through the open top thereofthereby afiording an extremely simple means whereby additional metal tobe flat-,

tened can be added to thehopper or container after it hasbeen partiallyfilled withilattened metal for 'compl V tingle, bundle of flattenedmetal of a predetermined size. 7 V More particularly, it is a primaryobject of the present invention to provide a novel friction means forengaging and elevating the ram which,

is manually controlled to permit the ram to be released at any elevationdepending upon the amount of force required. I

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully-apparent from the following description of the a 1 2 Ii 4 drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the mav chine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a, front elevationalview, looking from right to left of Figures 1 and 2, partly in section;

Figure 4 isa view partly inside elevation and partly in vertical sectiontaken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure3 Figure 5 is a' horizontal sectional view taken,

substantiallyfalong a plane as indicated by the line 5 50f, Figure3,,and

Figure 6 is ,a similar vievv take n substantially.

along a plane as indicated by the line (3-6 of Figure 3. c

Referring more specificallyto the the,

bundling machinein its entirety,iswdesignated generally I and includes abase designatedgenerallyfi which .is elongated and whichincludes sidemembers or sills 9 connected byaplurality of cross members It andhaving. platforms or floor surfaces I l and I2 at the ends thereof, Thebase 8 adapted to be demountably supported on a pluralityyof tiesorsimilar elements 13, n The rear" platform or floor 12 providesacsupporthfor a pair of laterally spaced bearing-ale;

merits M whilch are disposedthereabove and. sup

ported bydepending, diverging legs. l5 which are secured to saidplatform l2.

Mandhasa pulley I! fixedto each end thereof Y on any suitable motor, orengine,.not' shown, lo

J and c outwardly; of. thebearing elements It. A large, combinationpulleand flywheel l8,is fixed to the shaft, 16 between the bearing elementsl4.

and is, adapted to be drivenby an endlessbelt l9 cated beyond the endiofthe frame 8 providedwith the platf 01 ml} for revolving the shaft l 6and the small belt pulleys l1. I;

The platformor floor i! also surface and has apair of laterally spacedguide postsjll and 2 I anchored thereinand rising there-i from. TIfheuide sts Zland 2 I are, provided with opposed inwardly opening groovesor channels 22 V y,

A container or hopper, designated "generally 23 is supported on theplatform H between the lowerends of the posts 20' an'dgZl with saidplatsIorm ll constituting the bottom of the container 23. The container 23includes a lowersection 2A as best seenin Figure .5 includingcorresponding;

side walls 25 which are secured to the inner sides A shaft 16 extendsvthrough and is journaled in the bearing elements forms an. anvil of theposts 24 and 2|, a stationary rear wall 26 and a movable front wall 21,forming the door of the container or hopper 23 and which is providedwith barrel portions 28 at the ends thereof adapted to fit between thebarrel portions 29 on the forward ends of the side walls 25 and whichare detachably connected thereto by hinge pins 30 so that by removal ofboth hinge pins, the wall 21 can be removed completely or by the removalof one of the hinge pins the wall 21 can be swung on the other hinge pinas a pivot to an open position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure5. The upper section 3| of the hopper 23 is Secured to and supported bythe posts 2|] and 2| and forms an upper, flared continuation of the topof the bottom section 24 which is open at its upper end.

An open, substantially rectangular superstructure or upper frame 32 issecured to and supported by the upper ends of the posts 20 and 2| and bycorresponding ends of braces 33 which are secured thereto and to theposts 20 and 2| and which extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom andare secured at their opposite ends to the bearing elements l4, as bestillustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

A pair of laterally spaced bearings 34 are secured to the upper surfacesof the side portions of the frame 32 to provide journals for a shaft 35which extends rotatably therethrough and to each end of which is fixed abelt pulley 3B. The belt pulleys 38 are spaced outwardly from the sidesof the upper frame 32 and substantially in longitudinal alignment withthe belt pulley l1 and an endless belt 3'! is trained over the alignedpulleys H and 36 for driving the shaft 35 from the shaft It. A frictionroller 38 is fixed to the intermediate portion of the shaft 35 betweenthe bearings 34 and within the Open central portion of the frame 32 anda gear 39 is fixed to the shaft 35 adjacent one end of the roller 38.

The forward end of the side members of the frame 32 are provided ontheir upper surfaces with guide channels 4!] for slidably receiving thebase portions 4| of a pair of bearings 42 which project upwardly fromthe rear ends of said base portions or slides 4|. The base portions 4|with the bearings 42 carried thereby are supported by the guides 40 forsliding movement on the top frame 32 in a direction forwardl andrearwardly of the machine or toward and away from the bearings 34. Ashaft 43 is journaled in the bearings 42 and is provided with a frictionroller 44 corresponding to the roller 38 and longitudinally alignedtherewith and a gear 45, also fixed to the shaft 43 is disposed to meshwith the gear 39. The gears 39 and 45 are provided with relatively longintermeshing teeth, for a purpose which will hereinafter becomeapparent.

The base members or slides 4| are provided with pins 46 which projectfrom their rear ends and which slidably engage recesses 41 formed in andopening forwardly of the bearing members 34, as best seen in Figure 4.Each of the pins 46 carries an expansion coil spring 48 which bearsagainst the adjacent ends of the aligned bearings 34 and 42 for urgingsaid bearings 42 forwardly and away from the bearings 34. The opposite,forward ends of the slides or base portions 4| are provided withforwardly projecting pins or studs 49 each of which bears against alever 50.

The levers 50 are fixed to a shaft which is supported on the forward endof the top frame 32 by bearings 52 which are secured to the forward'endof said frame and in which said shaft 5| is journaled. A lever 53 isfixed at one end thereof to one end of the shaft 5| and is disposedbeyond one side of the frame 32 and above a lever 54 which is pivotallymounted at its rear end on the outer side of the post 20. The lever 53extends rearwardly from the shaft 5| and is provided with an upwardlycurved free end to which one end of a rigid link 55 is pivotallconnected. The opposite, lower end of the link 55 is pivotally connectedto an apertured ear 55 of the lever 54. Accordingly, it will be seenthat the forward, handle end of the lever 54 can be manually engaged forswinging said lever downwardly as illustrated in Figure 1 for therebyrocking the lever 53 and shaft 5| counter-clockwise to cause the levers50 to swing rearwardly and through their engagement with the studs 49 todisplace the bearings 32 rearwardly against the action of the springs 48for moving the shaft 43, friction roller 44 and gear 45 toward the shaft35, friction roller 38 and gear 39. A pin or stop 51, secured to the topframe 32 liimts the upward swinging movement of the lever 53 andaccordingl the extent to which the shaft 5| can be rocked clockwise asseen in Figure 1 by the springs 48 displacing the bearings 42 forwardlyso that the gear 45 will be prevented from moving sufficientl in aforward direction for disengaging the teeth 39. As previously stated,the gears 39 and 45 are provided with relativel long teeth so that saidgears will be enmeshed when the gear 45 is in either its forward orrearward position.

A ram or impact element 58 is disposed between the posts 20 and 2| andslidably connected thereto by upwardly and outwardly projecting flangemembers or slides 59 which slidably engage in the grooves or channels22. The ram 58 is sized to fit into the lower section 24 of the hopper23 and is provided with an upwardly projecting bar or shank 60 whichextends upwardly through the opening of the frame 32 and between thefriction rollers 38 and 44 and is of a thickness so that it will not beengaged by said rollers when the roller 44 is disposed in a forwardposition. However, when the lever 54 is swung downwardly, as previouslydescribed, for displacing the shaft 43 and friction roller 44rearwardly, the bar or shank 60 .will be clamped between said rollersand as said rollers are driven in opposite directions and in directionsfor drawing the bar 60 upwardly therethrough, as will hereinafter bedescribed, it will be readily apparent that the ram 58 will be elevatedby the rollers when the roller 44 is displaced rearwardly or into anoperative position.

The posts 20 and 2| are rovided with corresponding recesses 5|, as bestillustrated in Figure 3, each adapted to accommodate a latch element 62which is pivotally mounted therein on a pin 63, and intermediate of itsends. The recesses 6| open inwardly and outwardly of the posts 20 and 2|and said latch members 62 are provided with corresponding, remote endswhich project outwardly from said posts. A shaft 64 is journaled in apair of bearings 65 which are secured to the rear sides of the posts 20and 2| and spaced rearwardly therefrom by spacer blocks 66. The shaft 64is provided at its ends with forwardly projecting cranks 61 which aredisposed on the outer sides of the posts 20 and 2| and below theoutwardly projecting, remote ends of the latch members 62, to which thefree ends of the cranks 61 are connected by links 68. A weight 69depends from the cranks 67 which is disposed outwardly of the post 2|for normally urging the cranks 61 downwardly for urging the latchmembers 68 in a direction for causing their inner ends to swing upwardlyand toward the posts 20 and 2| into nested positions in the recesses 6!,as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

A bracket 'Hlis attached to the forward side of the post 20 above thelevel of the latch members 62 and has an outwardly projecting stub shaftII for pivotally supporting a lever 12, adjacent one end of said lever.The rear end of the lever 72, which is disposed adjacent the pivot H andon the outer side of the post 20 is connected by a link 13 to the outerend of the .latch member '52- of the post 2 0-so that by manuallyengaging and swinging-the opposite, forward end of the lever 12downwardly, the link-13 willbe elevated for rocking said last mentionedlatch member 52 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 3 to therebycause the crank connected thereto to be swung upwardly for rocking theshaft 64 and the other crank 61 in the same direction to permit theother latch member 62 to swing counter-clockwise so that the inner endsof the latch members 62 will extend into the space between the posts 20and 2! so that the ram 53 in a partially elevated position can rest onsaid inner ends of the latch members 62 and will be supported therebysubstantially above the hopper 23 so that said hopper can be loaded withscrap metal, not shown, such as tin cans, metal drums, parts of vehiclebodies and the like. After said hopper has thus been loadedsubstantially to its open top, and with the belt l9 being driven in thedirection as indicated by the arrow 14 in Figure l for revolving thepulleys l8, l1 and 36 in the direction as indicated by the arrow 15, itwill be readily apparent that the shaft 35, friction roller 38 and gear39 will also be driven in the same direction while the shaft 43,friction roller 44 and gear 45 will be driven in the opposite directionby the meshing engagement of the gears 30 and 45. Accordingly, bypressing downwardly on the forward end of the lever '54, the ram shankwill be frictionally engaged between the rollers 38 and 44, aspreviously described for elevating the ram off of the latch members 62thereby permitting the weight 58 to rock the cranks 61 downwardl forswinging the inner ends of the latch members 62 into the recesses 6|.When the ram 58 has been elevated to a desired level by the engagementof the friction rollers 48 and 64 with its shank 68, the lever 54 isreleased to permit the springs 48 to displace the roller 44 forwardlythereby releasing the frictional grip on the ram shank 60 so that theram 58 can drop by gravity into the hopper 23 for compressing the metalcontained therein. This operation can be repeated until all of the metalhas been flattened and if the bottom section 24 is then not filled withmetal, the ram. 58 can be re-latched in a partially elevated position asseen in Figures 1, 3 and 4 and the upper section 3| of the hopper 23 maythen be filled with additional metal and the operation repeated untilthe bottom section of the hopper has been completely filled. With thebottom section of the hopper completely filled with the flattened andcompressed scrap metal, one of the pins 38 can be removed to permit thefront wall 2'! to be swung outwardly, as seen in dotted lines in Figure5 so that the compacted metal may be removed therefrom and tied withwire into a bundle. This is preferably and most easily accomplished bystretching several strands of wire 16 from front to rear across thebottom of the hopper 23 and having the rear ends of said strandsextending upwardly and outwardly of the hopper and the overthecompressed metal and b 'then grasping both ends of each wire 16the'compacted metal can be readily removed either before or aftertwisting the ends of the wiresfor securing the bundle.

In order to provide a positive safety feature for protection of theoperators, a chain or other flexible member T! is anchored at one endthereof to the lever 54 and is adapted to be detachabl connectedatitsopposite end to a hook or other fastening 78 secured to thepost 20above the lever 54 so that said lever can be held against being swungdownwardly while the ram 58 is supported on the latch members 62 duringthe filling of the hopper or container 23.

It will be readily apparent that the belt pulley It also functions as aflywheel and that the ram 58 can be very quickly elevated so that anundue load will not be placed upon the engine or motor, not shown,utilized for driving the belt IS.

The machine 8 may be made in various sizes and is quite capable ofutilizing a ram 58 weighing considerably in excess of a 1,000 pounds andyet may be constructed so that it can be readily placed upon a vehicleand moved to and setup in close proximity to a pile of scrap metal sothat the flattening and bundling of the scrap metal ,can be accomplishedwithout transporting the metal prior to bundling, thereby greatlyreducing the salvaging expense.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. .A machinev for flattening scrap metal comprising a platform, a pairof upstanding posts supported on and rising from the platform, a

hopper having an open top supported on the platform and secured theretobetween the lower ends of the posts, a ram slidably guided by said postsfor movement toward and away from the hopper and platform and into andout of the hopper, a top frame supported on the upper ends of the posts,a driven shaft journaled in the top frame, a pair of bearings slidablysupported on said top frame for movement toward and away from the drivenshaft, an idler shaft journaled in said bearings, a friction rollerfixed to each of said shafts, a shank projecting upwardly from said rambetween the rollers, spring means for normally urging the bearing andidler shaft away from the driven shaft for normally retaining saidrollers out of frictional engagement with the ram shank, manuallyactuated means for displacing said bearings and idler shaft toward thedriven shaft for positioning the rollers in friction-a1 engagement withthe ram shaft, gear means connecting said shafts for causing the shaftsto revolve with the rollers in opposite directions for drawing the ramshank upwardly therebetween when the shank is frictionally engaged bythe rollers for elevating the ram, said manually actuated means beingreleasable for releasing the ram shank from frictional engagement withthe rollers at any desired level of the ram to permit the ram to drop bygravity into the hopper, said hopper being adapted to contain scrapmetal to be mashed and flattened by the impact force of the ram, latch-means swingably mounted in said posts and normally disposed inretracted, inoperative position, and manually operated means forswinging said latch means into the space between the posts for engagingunder and supporting the ram in a partially elevated position and abovethe open top of said hopper to afford access to the open top of thehopper for filling it with scrap metal, said latch means beingpositively retained in an operative engagement with the ram by theWeight of the ram supported thereon until the ram is elevated by manualoperation of said manually actuated means for positioning the rollers infrictional engagement with the ram shank.

2. A machine as in claim 1, and a safety attachment for rendering saidmanually actuated means inoperative to prevent the ram from beingelevated out of engagement with said latch means While the hopper isbeing charged.

JAMES FERRANDO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

